South Africa’s law enforcement community has been rocked by the arrest of its criminal intelligence chief, Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo, who now faces serious allegations of fraud and corruption. The high-ranking officer was apprehended on Thursday evening upon arrival at Johannesburg’s main international airport by members of an elite anti-corruption unit.
Lt-Gen Khumalo, who has led the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) Crime Intelligence Division since 2022, appeared in court on Friday in Pretoria. He was joined by six co-accused, all of whom are also senior SAPS officials. Their legal representative stated that they plan to plead not guilty.
Though full details of the charges have yet to be made public, local media reports indicate that the arrests are tied to an ongoing investigation into the misuse of intelligence funds and potentially illegal appointments within SAPS. This marks the second major wave of arrests within the Crime Intelligence Division in just two weeks, further exposing deep-rooted issues within the agency.
The latest developments have intensified scrutiny of the Crime Intelligence unit, which is meant to be the frontline in tackling organized crime and corruption. The credibility of the division—and SAPS as a whole—is now under severe pressure, as multiple top-ranking officials face criminal charges.
The Democratic Alliance (DA), the second-largest party in South Africa’s coalition government, welcomed the arrests. In a statement, the party said the move was a “step in rescuing an organisation on the brink of collapse,” and highlighted the need for a comprehensive clean-up of state institutions.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), a leading opposition party, echoed similar sentiments, describing the situation as part of a broader crisis within SAPS. The EFF called for an urgent structural overhaul to restore public trust and ensure functional policing.
Gen Khumalo, a veteran of over 20 years in the police service, now joins a growing list of senior SAPS officials whose alleged involvement in corruption has damaged the institution’s integrity. South Africans are now demanding accountability, transparency, and long-overdue reforms in the country’s security apparatus.
